Minecraft:Multiplayer

File:Multiplayer preview.png

From left to right: Kai, Minecraft:Steve, Minecraft:Efe, and Minecraft:Zuri playing together

Multiplayer is the style of playing Minecraft:Minecraft that involves multiple Minecraft:players interacting on a single Minecraft:world hosted by a player or an external Minecraft:server, allowing them to work together to mine Minecraft:ores, build structures, and fight Minecraft:mobs or each other, or to simply play together.

Gameplay

Template:See also The Minecraft:gameplay of a multiplayer game still retains the same structure as the singleplayer counterpart. Take for example, in a Minecraft:Survival multiplayer game, players advance by gathering Minecraft:resources, fighting Minecraft:monsters, exploring the Minecraft:world, and reaching Minecraft:the End. However, multiplayer puts more emphasis on collaboration between players. Tasks such as resource gathering, Minecraft:farming, and building Minecraft:structures can be divided among players, making progression much faster compared to a singleplayer game.

Multiplayer allows for Minecraft:player-driven activities beyond the main game objectives. Players often establish in-game economy by building shops to trade valuable resources like Minecraft:diamonds and Minecraft:enchanted items. They can also engage in elaborate building for their homes and structures, such as Template:Ws, Template:Ws, Template:Ws, Template:Ws, Template:Ws, and more – usually forming into Template:Ws or Template:W.

Multiplayer experiences can also deviate from the base game; competitive gamemodes can involve Minecraft:combat between players and many minigames are heavily community-based. In addition, many adventure maps are also playable in multiplayer. These activities often rely on the Minecraft:chat system for communication between players, which can be managed on the Minecraft:Social interactions screen.Template:Only There are various communication tools within the multiplayer chat using commands such as Template:Cmd for private messaging, and the host of the world can change multiplayer settings.

Differences from singleplayer

File:Joined game toast.png

A warning when the game unpauses due to another player joining

The game runs an internal Minecraft:server for singleplayer mode, allowing for better parity between the multiplayer and singleplayer experience. However, there are still some differences between a multiplayer and singleplayer game, one being that the game cannot be Minecraft:paused by a player.

Opening the game menu in multiplayer does not pause the game. For example, if the player has items being Minecraft:smelted in a furnace, pressing the pause button (Template:Key by default) does not stop the smelting process. Minecraft:Mobs and entities don't pause and continue to work regardless, and even attacking the player. Although, in Template:JE, server Minecraft:operators can simulate pausing by using Template:Cmd command. In this state, non-player characters and interactions such as Minecraft:physics, daylight and Minecraft:weather cycle, Minecraft:mob AI and movements, item Minecraft:smelting, certain Minecraft:animations, and other actions are frozen. Players and player-ridden entities are still able to continue play, regardless if they are operator status or not.

In multiplayer mode, the Minecraft:locator bar is enabled and keeps track of other players' waypoints. This is absent in singleplayer, though Template:In, it can be enabled manually for tracking Minecraft:entities using Template:Cmd command and Template:Attr attribute.

Multiplayer worlds

Java Edition

File:Open to LAN.jpg

Settings for a multiplayer game on local area network (LAN)

Template:IN, singleplayer worlds can be hosted as multiplayer games on the Template:W (LAN), usually connected by Template:W or Template:W. LAN is not enabled by default, and must be activated on "Open to LAN" menu under the Minecraft:pause menu. Upon activation, the multiplayer game provides additional settings:

• "Game Mode", which sets the Minecraft:game mode of other players once they join the world for the first time. Once a player rejoins, they retain their previous game mode even if the game mode on join was changed.
• "Allow Commands", which allows or denies other players access to execute Minecraft:commands depending on the selected option. Once a player rejoins, they do not retain their cheats permissions unless enabled again.
• "Port Number", which specifies the port number for the LAN-based server. If not specified, the game randomizes the server port. The port is automatically shown on the chat when the LAN game is activated.

Players can also open their game to LAN by using Template:Cmd command, which provide arguments to configure the same settings.

Once published, the host's game sends a UDP multicast to the Template:W 224.0.2.60:4445 every 1.5 seconds, notifying other players of the host's presence, and making their LAN world pop up automatically in the Minecraft:server list.

LAN worlds can also be unpublished via this menu or the Template:Cmd command.

Peer-to-Peer

File:Invite to world toast.png

Receiving invite to friend's world toast

Players that are in-game friends via the Minecraft:Friends list could join each other's online multiplayer worlds via Minecraft:Peer-to-Peer. Friends that are online could be invited to join to a world through the "Invite to game" button displayed next to their profile in the "Friends" tab and the Friends could accept or deny the invite.

The player could also request to join a friend's online world and the friend could accept or deny the request in the "Friends" tab.

Bedrock Edition

File:Ore UI - Create New World Screen Menu "Multiplayer" Tab Settings (Bedrock).png

"Multiplayer" section of Create New World or Edit World, which lets player customize their multiplayer game

Template:IN, the game features multiplayer connections using local area network (LAN) and Minecraft's Minecraft:social system within the Template:W. When signed in with a Microsoft account and connected to the internet, the host can let players join their game by invites or their friend status in the Xbox network. Multiplayer game is enabled by default upon a Minecraft:world creation, which can be changed in the Minecraft:edit world screen.

The multiplayer game visibility in the Xbox network can be changed in Template:UI, which provides following options:

• "Invited players", which allows some Xbox friends that the host invites to join.
• "Friends", which allows any Xbox friends of the host to join them. This is the default option.
• "Friends of friends", which allows the host's Xbox friends and their friends to join them.

File:Invite to Game screen.png

Inviting friends to join the world

A friend's multiplayer game in the Xbox network appears on the "Worlds" tab of the Minecraft:Play screen, showing the world name and amount of active players. Individual players can also be joined through the social drawer or the player's Minecraft:profile screen. Friends can be invited to a world with the "Invite to play" button in the social drawer in the Minecraft:pause menu, who will get a notification (even when not in-game), and the option to join the world.

The host can set specific Minecraft:permissions for each player in the game. By default, a player upon joining gets "Member" role, which enables mining, building, and interacting with the world and entities. This can be set in the multiplayer settings, which provides "Visitor" and "Operator" roles, and further more on the player permissions screen in the pause menu, which provides more granular and custom permissions. The host can also kick active players from the multiplayer world, or ban them to hide the world for them.

The "Visible to LAN players" option allows anyone on the same local network (either by Template:W or router) as the host to join them, regardless if they are an Xbox friend of the host or not, and does not require any internet connection.

On console versions, playing a multiplayer game requires an online subscription of either Template:W, Template:W, or Template:W.<ref>Template:Cite</ref> This includes joining or hosting a LAN multiplayer game.

There can be a maximum of 5 or 8 players at a time in a world, depending on the host's system, and can be set using Template:Cmd up to 40 players.

Servers

File:Multiplayer Screen.png

The multiplayer screen Template:In allows the player to add a new server or join them

File:Ore UI - Play Screen Menu "Servers" Tab - Featured Servers (Bedrock).png

The server list in Bedrock Edition, which features partnered servers

A Minecraft:server is a standalone software that allows players to host a Minecraft world outside the normal game software. In order to join a Minecraft server, the game includes a menu where players can join a server, and save the ones they've visited. This feature is called the server list, and it's available inside the Multiplayer menu,Template:Only or the Servers tab on the Minecraft:Play menu.Template:Only From the list, players can check if a server is online, check their Template:W to the server, and see how many players are in the game. Template:IN, the server list includes Minecraft:featured servers which are partnered with Minecraft:Mojang Studios. In the console versions, the featured servers are the only servers available to the players, and external servers cannot be added or accessed.

Worlds hosted on servers can also be joined through LAN play as described above. Servers cannot be joined through the Xbox network in Bedrock Edition.

The Minecraft:Official Minecraft Server List by GamerSafer and Mojang features a variety of servers for the player to choose, which are categorized into options such as minigames, Minecraft:SMPs, and Minecraft:creative builds. All servers listed on the website are required to comply with Minecraft Usage Guidelines (MUG) and End-user license agreement (EULA), and have been vetted by both GamerSafer and the Mojang Enforcement Team.

Realms

Template:Main Players can pay a subscription service to create their own private Minecraft server which is always online. This service is called Realms, and it is provided by Minecraft:Mojang Studios on Template:Els. Realms are not available in the server list, players can join Realms only if they're invited by the Realm owner. Realms provides several exclusive features included in the subscription.

Player list

Java Edition

Players can see a list of players in the server by holding down Template:Key key, which is bound to List Players by default. For each player, the face part of their Minecraft:skin is shown alongside their Minecraft:username, and on the right, a network bar indicator that shows how good the player's connection to the server; when more green bar is filled in the indicator, the lower ping time the player has. If a scoreboard objective is set to the Template:Cd display slot, the player's score for that objective is shown to the left of the network indicator. Players in spectator mode have a grayed out and italicised username. The outer layer, or hat, of a player is not loaded in the player list until they are in render distance.

Meaning of ping icons<ref>The player list implementation can be seen on Template:Jcp class in the game's code. (Mojang mapping)</ref>

Icon	Player's ping time
File:Ping unknown.png	Below 0msTemplate:Note
File:Ping 5.png	Between 0 and 150ms
File:Ping 4.png	Between 150 and 300ms
File:Ping 3.png	Between 300 and 600ms
File:Ping 2.png	Between 600 and 1000ms
File:Ping 1.png	Above 1000ms

The ping time (or latency) is calculated by Template:Math, which the client round trip time is calculated from subtracting the current system time by milliseconds with the client keep alive time.<ref>The calculation can be checked on Template:Jcp method. (Mojang mapping)</ref> If no previous latency is set, then the initial latency is zero.

Bedrock Edition

File:Ore UI - Game Menu - Social Tab Screen Menu "World" Tab (Bedrock).png

The social drawer in the game menu

Online players in the server can be seen in Minecraft:social drawer in the game menu (opened with Template:Keys or the bound key). Each player is shown with their Minecraft:player permission, and their skin face, allowing to open the Minecraft:profile and change social settings.

Parties

Template:MainTemplate:Exclusive Players can join and create parties within the friends system, and connect with up to 15 people in the menus. When the leader joins a multiplayer world or Realm, all members automatically join the leader and can quickly hop from world to world. Parties also have a chat feature which allows members to communicate even if they are not in the same world, or in the menus.

History

Gallery

Screenshots

• A multiplayer group
  A multiplayer group
• Two players look towards a massive build they made.
  Two players look towards a massive build they made.
• Three players in a cave, stumbling on an Ancient city
  Three players in a cave, stumbling on an Ancient city
• Two players in boats heading towards a shipwreck. A base can be seen above.
  Two players in boats heading towards a shipwreck. A base can be seen above.
• Three players building a house on a cliffside
  Three players building a house on a cliffside
• Two players mining
  Two players mining
• Four players in multiplayer, with the chat open
  Four players in multiplayer, with the chat open
• Two players fighting near a cliff
  Two players fighting near a cliff

User interface

• The disclaimer that appears Template:In before going to the multiplayer menu screen
  The disclaimer that appears Template:In before going to the multiplayer menu screen
• The same disclaimer Template:In
  The same disclaimer Template:In
• Banned from a Minecraft server
  Banned from a Minecraft server
• Banned from online play and Minecraft:Realms
  Banned from online play and Minecraft:Realms
• Minecraft:Title screen with inaccessible multiplayer and Realms buttons when banned from online play
  Minecraft:Title screen with inaccessible multiplayer and Realms buttons when banned from online play

Historical screenshots

• A multiplayer group taken in Minecraft:Java Edition Beta
  A multiplayer group taken in Minecraft:Java Edition Beta
• A player-made Minecraft:creeper structure in multiplayer Minecraft:Java Edition Beta
  A player-made Minecraft:creeper structure in multiplayer Minecraft:Java Edition Beta
• A player-made great pillars, assuming to be a massive castle
  A player-made great pillars, assuming to be a massive castle
• Player Template:Ws, a common trait of Minecraft:creative multiplayer servers
  Player Template:Ws, a common trait of Minecraft:creative multiplayer servers
• Numerous players on a Minecraft:Pocket Edition server in 2014
  Numerous players on a Minecraft:Pocket Edition server in 2014
• An early multiplayer game on Minecraft:Java Edition Alpha
  An early multiplayer game on Minecraft:Java Edition Alpha
• An early Minecraft:Spleef minigame on Minecraft:Java Edition Classic
  An early Minecraft:Spleef minigame on Minecraft:Java Edition Classic
• An early Creative mode server on Minecraft:Java Edition Classic
  An early Creative mode server on Minecraft:Java Edition Classic

Development images

• Minecraft:Notch testing multiplayer
  Minecraft:Notch testing multiplayer
• Early multiplayer
  Early multiplayer
• Early multiplayer
  Early multiplayer
• Early multiplayer
  Early multiplayer

In other media

• A multiplayer game on a rainy night
  A multiplayer game on a rainy night
• Players gaining Minecraft:achievements with Minecraft:add-ons enabled
  Players gaining Minecraft:achievements with Minecraft:add-ons enabled